Spark arrester



Oct. 16, 1934.

c. A. SELEY SPARK ARRESTER Filed May 12, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet l F/Faf/esA. 151?]? C. A SELEY SPARK ARRESTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 12, 1935Oct. 16, 1934.

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C. A. SELEY SPARK ARRESTER Oct. 16, 1934.

Filed May 12, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q L L;

30 [bl/8 M C. A. SELEY SPARK ARRESTER Oct. 16, 1934.

Filed May 12, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 w S e lplrrllllrfl Bu/e165; [Zak/esA dzgy A orne Patented Oct. 16, 1934 UNITED STATES terms PATENT motiveFirebox Company, Chicago, corporation of Delaware Application May12,1933, Serial No. 670,684

Claims.

, tering the same are caused to take on a whirling action'in a circularpath. By reason of this action, the heavier live sparks and cindersbombard the inner face of the arrester casing and. are broken up intoparticles of reduced dimen- 5 sions andweight. These particles enter theeffective zone of draft about the bottom of the stack. extension to beentrained therein for discharge out through the stack in a harmlesscondition.

made. have certain structural deficiencies which the present inventionseeks to overcome.

. jlnsuch arresters, it is apparent that due to the character of theproducts of combustion entering the same, their bombardment of the innersurface of the casing, sets up a severe abrasive action which soon wearsholes in the casing. Such holes materially reduce the operatingefficiency of the arrester. 1

In some arresters of this kind, the-upright walls thereof are, made inseparate sections. This leaves minute cracks or crevices between theabutting edges of the sections and such' cracks or crevices are usuallycovered only by metallic straps. It is apparent that with such straps itis difficult to prevent leakage into the casing under the draftactionexisting therein. ,One of the objects of the present invention is toprovide a spark arrester of this kind which 40 has an interior liner ofgreater wear resisting qualities, whereby a longer period of usefulness,Without frequent servicing is possible.

Another object of the invention is to'provide in an arrester of thiskind, wear resisting liners which may be readily replaced when worn.Said liners may or may not include breaker strips forming elongatedshoulders against which cinders and sparks engage to be more quicklybroken up or disintegrated into harmless particles for entrainment intoand discharge up and out of the stack.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and eifectiveseal at the joints between Gil the several sections whereby leakageinto. the

55 arrester casing is prevente Spark arresters of. this kind asheretofore The above mentioned objects of the invention as well asothers, together with the several ad'- vantages thereof, will more fullyappear as I proceed with my specification. i

In the drawings: 0:

Fig; 1 isa longitudinal-vertical sectional view through the frontxend ofa locomotive boiler provided with a spark arrester embodying thepreferred form of the invention; Y i Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectionalview through the same as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional View through the front end. ofthe smoke box shell of the boiler as-taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal sectional View on 70.; an enlarged scalethrough a part of the arrester as taken on the line 4-4. of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5*is-a detail vertical sectional. view on an enlarged scale throughapart of the arrester as taken on the line 57-5 of Fig. 3; f

-Fig;:6 is another detail vertical 'sectional viewon an enlarged scaleas taken in the plane indi cated by the line 6-5 of Fig. 3 and showsmore particularly the keyJbolted connection between the flange on thetop of the casinganclthe top 0: portion of one .of. theupright sectionsof'the casing; 5

Fig. '7 is a view in elevation of a part of the flange of the top Wallof the casing and illustrates more particularly the shape of the holes51 therein for receiving the key bolts carried by the top end of theassociated upright sections;

Fig. 8 is'a View in elevation of the inner face of one of the uprightwall sections of the casing, and illustrates more particularly onearrange- 9o ment of the breaker strips on the liner;

Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 8 and shows a different form ofarrangement for the breaker strips on the liner;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional View through the casing section shownin Fig. 8, the plane of the section being taken on the line l0l0 of Fig.8, and

Figs; 11, 12, 13 and 14 are views similar to Fig. 10 through casingsections having modified forms of breaker strip arrangements, as will bemore fully described later. 1

In general, my improved spark arr'ester coinprises a casing arrangedinthe smoke box of the boiler and so disposed with respect to the stackextension and exhaust nozzle that both open thereinto to provide thenecessary draft action. The casing in this instance has its inletopening at the rear so as to face the adjacent flue sheet but thisarrangement of said opening These upright walls are made up in sectionssuitably secured at their top and bottom ends by means of key bolts tothe flanges of the top and bottom walls. The adjoining edges of the sections are overlapped on the outside of the casing by suitable straps, asealing strip of a softer material being arranged between said adjoiningedges and straps to insure against leakage into the casing at thesepoints.

On the inside of each section is a liner which is highly resistant toWear under the abrasive action of sparks and cinders in their whirlingmovement in the casing under draft action. The liners of the varioussections are furthermore formed with inward projections or breakers inthe form of metallic strips. In the. whirling action that the sparks andcinders take on While in the casing, the sparks and cinders engage thebreaker strips and this breaks them into smaller particles in much lesstime than heretofore so that the particles are more easily entrained fordischarge up the stack as harmless material incapable of startingWayside fires. By

, reason of the disintegrating action, the cinders and sparks are morequickly discharged up the stack. Therefore their abrasive action isreduced to a and wear on the liners is reduced in proportion.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention, illustratedin the accompanying drawings:

1 indicates as a whole the tubular body of the smake box shell that isoperatively connected at its rear end to the front end of the boilershell 2 in any suitable manner, the front end of the smoke box shellbeing normally closed by an associated front end shown).

3 indicates the'front flue sheet of the boiler in which the associatedends of the usual tubes or flues are secured, so as to deliver theproducts of combustion into the smoke box. 4 indicates the barrel of thestack having a flanged base secured to the body of the smoke box shellabout the usual opening therein. Welded in said opening is a ring 5through which a top end part 6a of a stack extension 6 projects. Thispart of the extension is welded in the ring and door (not and its topextremity extends a suitable distance up into the stack barrel. Thebottom extremity of the bottom part 61) of the stack extension is flaredas at '7.

The exhaust stand or pipe is indicated at 8. This stand or pipe risesfrom the bottom of the smoke box shell in line withthe stack and isprovided at its top end with oneor more discharge tips 9.

In the smoke box shell is located a cyclonic separator casing 10 whichcomprises fiat top and bottom walls 11 and 12 respectively, upright sidewalls l313 and a semicircular front Wall 14, the casing being open atthe rear end to pro vide an inlet therefor that faces the flue sheet- 3.This casing rests upon front and rear, transversely extending angle barsupports 15 so that its bottom wall is substantially flush with the topof the nozzle stand 8, there being a suitable hole in said bottom wallfor the nozzle tips. On said bottom wall about said nozzle tips isprovided an upright cinder ring 16. The open rear inlet end extendsthrough-a verticalsbaflle 17 arranged inthe plane of: the front endiofthe boiler shell 2. This baffle blocks off all of the smoke box to thefront of the inlet opening for the casing.

The top and bottom walls of the casing are provided with marginalflanges 18 and 19 respectively which, face toward each other. In saidflanges are. suitable openings through which certain key .bolts extendfor a purpose soon toappear, said openings in the rounded front end'partof said flanges being elongated horizontal-1y as at 20 in Fig. '7.

The stack extension 6 passes up through a suitable opening. in-thevtopwalhof the casing and is provided with an angle .bar. ring 21 thatrests upon said top wall. 'At'apoint below said ring, and arranged.within the casing'the bot; tom part 61) of said extensioncarries anglebrackets '22. Bolts 231-extendw through said brackets,.-the top wall andthe'angle barring respectively, whereby the associated .parts arerigidly. connected together. The stack exten sion parts '6u/6b :meet inthe plane of the upright flange of the ring 21 and: theuse of suchpartsmake assembly of the-arrester an easy matter.; 1

The uprightside walls and the semicircular front wall of the casing aremade up in sections A,- B, C, D, E and F respectively, as best-'indicated in Fig. 2. The sectionsA and F make up the side walls lS'andtheremaining sections make up the rounded or semicircular front wall.- Allof, these sections, whichare'of aheight-approximating. the distancebetween the top and bottom walls, .fit at their top and bottom marginsagainst the inside of the flanges 18*and'19 thereof, respectively. I Inthe inlet for the casing are provided laterally spacedxdeflectors 24,25and 26"respec-' tively arranged to. direct the incoming products of,combustion toward the section F of the -c"as-" ing. Associated with thesection A of the casing is. an upright segmental wall 27 curved to forma continuation ofthe roundedfront wallof'the' casing. The segmental wallwhich extends from" the top to the bottom of the casing'inclu'de's anangular deflector wing-28 disposed parallelwith the deflectors 24, and26 respectively.

The various sections-A to F inclusive, each comprise a suitably formedsheet 29 that carries at its top and. bottomimargins and along each sidemargin, outwardly. extending key bolts 30 and 31 respectively.Preferably the tapered head of said bolts are set in suitably tapered recesses so that the tops of said heads are flush with the inner surfaceof the sheet; If-dsired these bolts may be permanently fixed infthesheet. 1

Associated with the abutting side edges of adjacent sections-and on theoutside'ther'eof "arebutt straps -32 that overlap a marginal-"part"ofsaid adjacent sections. These straps carry on their inner surfacealong their'median" line' a sealing strip 33 such as an asbestos tape;

This stripis provided on its outer surface with a cementitious coatingso that it will adhereto the associatedbuttstrap and is provided on itsinner surface that engages the margins of l-lU ' end extending throughthe baffle 1'7.

adjacent sections, with a graphite coating so that it will not adhere tosaid margins when compressed there against as will soon appear.

Similar sealing strips 3435 are applied to the outer faces of the topand bottom margins of said sections, there being suitable holes in saidstrips to accommodate the bolts 30-31.

All parts of the casing except the section C are assembled outside thesmoke box. In applying the section A or F to the top and bottom walls 11and 12, its key bolts 30 are passed thrcugh'the openings 20 in theflanges 18 and 19 and then a washer 30a is. applied to the outer end ofeach bolt. Thereafter a wedge key 301) is driven through the slot ineach bolt. This draws the section into place with a tightly sealed topand bottom engagement with the flanges 18 and 19. The curved sections B,D and E are then applied in the same manner, after which a butt strap 32(with its sealing strips 33 thereon) is applied to overlap the adjacentmargins of each two adjacent sections, the butt straps having holestoaccommodate the key bolts 31. Thereafter washers 31a are applied to thebolts up against the butt straps and wedge keys 31b are driven throughthe slots in said bolts. This draws the butt straps in toward themargins'cf' said sections and acts to compress the sealing strips totightly close and seal the seams or crevices between the edges of saidsections.

As the sections are all moved into place'in a straight line, it isapparent that with the bolts extending radially with respect to thecurved sections, it would be impossible to get the bolts to pass throughround holes in the flanges 18 and- 19. By elongating them as shown at 20in Fig. 7, leeway is provided for such movement, the holes-being closedby the sealing strips 34, 35 when .the casing is assembled all but thesection C. I

The thus far assembled casing is now moved through open front end of thesmoke box shell into position upon the supports 15 with its inlet Thworkman from within the thus far assembled casing, then app-lies thestack extension parts (id-61) and the bolts 23.

- As before stated, the section C is the last one to be assembled inplace and bears the handle 36.3After all other work has been completedinv the casing, the workman steps out of the opening left to receive thesection C and works the section around into position. When posi tioned,by pulling on the handle 36, the bolts 30 of said section will passthrough the openings 20 in the flanges 18 and 19. Thereafter washers 30aand wedge keys 3% are applied and this draws the section into place. Thebutt straps 32 are applied and washers 31a and wedge keys 3119 areapplied to the bolts 31a and the assembly is completed.

Each section B, C, D, E and F is provided on its inner face with a linersheet 37 of high wear -resisting characteristics and on the inner faceof each liner are provided means which interrupt the smooth continuityof the face as provided by the liners of the various sections.

This means may be formed in several different ways. In Figs. 8 and 10this means is shown in the form of upright parallel breaker strips 38.These strips are welded in place at suitable spaced distances apart asat 39 and when worn beyond usefulness, may be removed and replaced bynew ones. It is to be noted that the breaker strips are so disposed onthe liner that one strip is located along one margin of the section anda breaker strip is spaced within the other margin. Thus, when all thesections are operatively positioned the breaker strips on all thesections are spaced equal distances apart.

. Instead of arranging the breaker strips vera semicylindricalcrosssection as at 38b in Fig.

11. In Fig. 11, only the liner and breaker strips are shown.

In Fig. 12, I have shown a breaker strip 37a that is corrugated whenconsidered in horizontal section. This arrangement provides hills andvalleys, the hills acting as the breaker strips.

In Fig. 13, I have shown a heavy wire netting I 371) secured to theinner face of the liner 37 and in Fig. 14, this netting is shown aslaterally spaced strips of netting 370.

In the operation of the arrester, with the nozzles discharging into thestack, a strong draft action is set up in the casing. The products ofcombustion leaving the tubes or lines enter the inlet of the casing andby reason of the deflectors, are directed toward the sections F and E ofthe casing and then take on a whirling action in a circular path. Inthis action, or movement, the heavier cinders and sparks engage thebreaker elements and are gradually broken into smaller particles. Thesesmaller particles are drawn toward the center of the casing to beentrained into the stack for dis-' charge. Those particles which stillmaintain suificient mass to keep them outside the infiuence of theentraining action, are thrown against and bounce off of other breakerstrips until reduced to particles of such size as to be entrained fordischarge up the stack.

The cinders and sparks in their whirling movement in a circular pathhavea highly abrasive action which is materially resisted by the linersbut eventually holes will appear therein. When such a condition arisesthe wedge keys of the bolts of the section C are withdrawn and the wholesection is moved inwardly of the casing to leave an opening throughwhich a workman may enter.

By working from both the inside and outside of the casing the varioussections may be taken out of the casing. The worn liners and breakerbars or strips are then removed and others applied in th ir stead.Thereafter the sections are replaced. In this manner, the life of thearrester is materially increased and due to the breaker strips, thecinders are more quickly broken up and entrained into the draft streamfor discharge upwardly and out of the stack.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to theform, arrangement and construction of the various parts of the arrester,the same is to be considered only in its illustrative sense so that I donot wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forthin the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a spark arrester, an arrester casing having an inlet opening andmade up of a plurality of casing sections, means overlapping marginalportions of adjacent sections, sealing means between saidvmarginalportions of adjacent sections andsaid overlapping means, and meansfordrawing said marginal portions and said overlapping means together forcompressing the sealing means between them and there provide a leakagetight joint between said sections.

, .2. In-a spark arrester, an arrester casing having an inlet openingand made up of a plurality of easing sections, abutt strap overlappingmarginal portions of the outer surface of adjacent sections, asealingstrip between said marginal portions of adjacent sections and said buttstrap, and means associated withsaid marginal portions and said buttstrap for drawing them together for compressing the sealing meansibetween them and there provide a leakage tight joint between saidsections.

3'. In a spark arrester, an arrester casing having-an inlet opening andmade up of a plurality o1": casing sections, a butt strap overlappingmarginal portions of the outer surface of adjacent sections, a sealingstrip adhered to the inner surface. of said strap and having its othersurface engaged with said marginal portions and treated so as not toadhere thereto, and means associated-with said marginal portions andbutt strap iordrawing them together so as to 'compress said sealingstrip between them and there provide .a leakage tight joint between saidsections. 5 l p 4. In a spark arrester, an arrester casing having aninlet opening and made up of a plurality of, easing sections, boltscarried by marginal portions, or" adjacent sections to extend outwardlytherefrom, a butt strap overlapping said marginal portions and havingopenings through which said bolts extend, asealing strip between said.butt strap and overlapping margins, and meansassocfated with said boltsfor drawing said margins and butt straps together for compressing thesealing strip to provide a leakage tight joint between said adjacentsections.

5. In a spark arrester, an arrester casing having an inlet opening andmade up of a plurality of casing sections,,and top and bottom wallshaving, marginal flanges, a; compressible sealing member between the topand bottom margins ofsaid sections and said flanges, means passingthrough said margins and flanges for drawing them together to compressthe sealing members into a leakage tight joint, a butt strap overlappingupright margins of adjacent sections, a sealing strip between saidupright marginscf said sections and said butt strap, and

means associated with said upright margins and butt straps respectivelyfor'drawing them together so as to compress said sealing strip to thereprovide a leakage tight joint.

6. In combination with a locomotive smoke box shell and associated stackand exhaust nozzle, a centrifugal spark arrester. casing in said shellhaving an inlet and a substantially annular sidewall, meansiin saidinlet for directing the incoming products of combustion toward one sideof the casing to there take on a whirling path about the inside of thecasing, and a Wear resisting liner following about the inner surface ofat least a part of said wall.

7. In combination with a locomotive smoke box shell and associated stackand exhaust noz-' zle, a centrifugal spark arrester casing in said shellhaving an inletand embodying'therein a plurality of f-WELH sectionsassembled into an--' nular Wall .form, means providing a liner followingabout the-inside of certain of said wall sections, means in said inletfor directing the incoming products of combustion toward one side of.the casing against the liner to. there take on a whirlingpath, and meansfor securing the adjacent margins of the casing sections togethe andincluding sealing means.

8. In combination with a locomotive smoke box shell and associated stackand exhaust nozzle, an arrester casing in said shell having an inlet,means in said inlet for directing the incoming products of. combustiontoward one side of the casing to there tak on a whirling path about theinside of the casing, a Wear resisting liner on the inside of saidcasing, and means on the inner surface of said liner adapted to beengaged by said products of combustion while in motion in said path forbreaking them into smaller particles for entrainment into the stack fordischarge.

9. In combination with a locomotive smoke box shell and associated stackand exhaust nozzle,

an arrester casing in said, shell having an inlet, means in said inletfor directing the incoming products of combustion toward one side of thecasing .to there take a whirling path about the inside of the casing, awear resisting liner on the inside ofsaid casing, and breaker strips onthe inside of the liner adapted to be engaged by said products ofcombustioniwhile in motion in said path for breaking them up intosmaller particles forv entrainment into the stack for discharge.

10. In combination with a locomotive smoke box shell and associatedstack and exhaust nozzle, an arrester casing in said shell having aninlet and embodying therein a plurality of upright wall sections, linerscarried on themside of certain of said sections, means associated withmargins of adjacent sections to provide a sealed joint between them,means in said inlet for directing the incoming products of combustiontoward one side or the casing to there take on a whirling action in acircular path and spark and cinder breaking means on certain of saidliners on said sections.

CHARLES A. SELEY..

